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Title: A Love Worth Fighting For

Chapter 4

***Thomas & Hope's Office***

Steffy: "Okay, now that Thomas is gone, what do you need to say?"

(Hope looks at Steffy with a serious face as she takes a step forward)

Hope: "First off, Steffy, you need to back off. I get it that you are concerned about Thomas. I would never hurt him, though."

(Steffy crosses her arms over her chest and shrugs)

Steffy: "Maybe not intentionally. But, you know the hell he went through to get better. I do NOT want him to have any setbacks."

(Hope raises her hands to her sides and looks confused)

Hope: "Why would he? You said so yourself. He has said it. He has gone to therapy. He worked hard. He made it clear he is a changed man."

(Hope places her hands on her hips)

Hope: (nods) "I believe him. I think the question is, though. Do you?"

Steffy: (weird look) "What kind of question is that? Of course, I believe in him."

(Hope points at Steffy as she spoke)

Hope: "Then act like it."

Steffy: "With your history with him and his past obsession with you, of course I'm going to worry."

Hope: "Well, I'm telling you that you don't have to."

Steffy: "Yeah, well, I'm always going to worry about my brother."

Hope: "Then please do not drag me down into your pettiness. Look, I got to go pick up the kids from Katie's."

Steffy: (raises her eyebrows) "You're not going to tell my brother you're leaving?"

Hope: "I will see Thomas on my way out."

(As Hope gathers her things and walks towards the door, she speaks)

Hope: "But, you and I? This conversation is over."

(Hope closes the door behind her. Steffy just shakes her head in determination)

Steffy: "Not until I say it is."

(Hope texts Thomas that she will talk to him later as she is going to pick up the kids from Katie's and get them settled)

(Meanwhile, Thomas decided to visit his father at his work office. Thomas knocks on the half-opened door, and Ridge tells him to come in)

Ridge: "Hey. How's it going?"

Thomas: "Things between Hope and I are great."

(Thomas rolls his eyes and moves his body in a bit of a circle)

Thomas: "Now, if only my sister could be happy for me. That would be even better."

Ridge: "I take it she is not supportive of you and Hope."

Thomas: "My sister feels that Hope will cause me to go to the dark side again."

Ridge: (shrugs) "How does Hope feel about you? Does she love you?"

(Thomas sighs deeply as he wipes his face)

Thomas: "Dad, this is between Hope and I. I am not going to pressure her into making a decision she is not ready for. I can see how she feels every time she looks at me. Every time she smiles at me. Every time we kiss each other. Trust me, dad, we know what we are doing. Please, respect that."

Ridge: "I do, son. Even though, I cannot say the same thing for other members of this family, I do respect your choices."

Thomas: "Thank you, dad."

(The father and son share a hug before Thomas leaves. He checks his phone to see a text from Hope. He smiles and texts back)

Thomas: "'No problem. Enjoy the night with the kids. I will see you tomorrow. Love you.'"

(Thomas does not press the issue and makes a mental note to have a conversation with his sister about over speaking in his life. He looks up to the ceiling like he's praying)

Thomas: "Please, God. Let everything work out for me and Hope."

Chapter 4 Done